Stanley Cup returning to Canada?

An NHL franchise is returning to Winnipeg after a 15-year absence and the Stanley Cup will make its way back to Canada for the first time in 18 years since Montreal won it in 1993.

Here’s why Vancouver will win the Cup this month:

The Boston Bruins have had a major advantage in goal throughout the playoffs so far. That won’t be so in the Stanley Cup Final.

Vancouver’s Roberto Luongo has performed just as well as Boston’s Tim Thomas. In fact, their numbers are eerily identical.

Both have a 12-6 record, a 2.29 goals against average and two shutouts in the playoffs. Their save percentages are about the same – Thomas with .929 compared to Luongo’s .922.

This series will be interesting because although there are tough Canucks and puck-dangling Bruins, it will generally be a battle of pure skill vs. raw toughness.

Boston has beasts like Nathan Horton (17 points) and Milan Lucic (9 points) who display toughness and scoring ability, but they won’t provide enough of both to keep up with the Sedin twins (37 points combined), Ryan Kessler (18 points) and company.

My crystal ball shows Vancouver hoisting the Stanley Cup after Game 6. That would make my playoff prediction record a half-decent 9-6.

Current Comments

Hope the Bruins prove you wrong....AGAIN. You've picked against them in every single round. Prediction record half-decent? It sucks.

Posted By: M | Jun 1, 2011 2:56:56 PM

Good. Bruins win. You're wrong. AGAIN.

Posted By: M | Jun 16, 2011 5:28:33 PM

Montreal playing Buffalo...there's a possibility they could make it out of the first round, then they'd get Washington and then they're done. Vancouver will be lucky to make it out of the first round against Detroit, Ottawa won't beat Pittsburgh in the first round but if they do I'll be ecstatic, and Calgary won't sneak in...nope no Cup in Canada this year.